Kevin Sorbo movie filmed in Birmingham opens nationally today

Birmingham landmarks Avondale Park and the Lyric Theatre have a starring role in a new movie released nationally today.

"Hercules" actor Kevin Sorbo and his wife, actress Sam Sorbo, wrapped up three weeks of filming in Birmingham in August 2016 for the faith-based movie they co-star in, "Let There Be Light."

They filmed a wedding scene in Avondale Park with singer Dionne Warwick. They filmed a debate scene in the Lyric Theatre. Country singer Travis Tritt has a role.

Most people recognize Kevin Sorbo from the popular syndicated TV series "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," which ran on TV from 1995-99.

His wife, Sam Sorbo, got the story idea for "Let There Be Light" and co-wrote it with producer Dan Gordon, who was the screenwriter for the Denzel Washington movie "Hurricane."

The story revolves around Kevin Sorbo's character, Dr. Sol Harkans, the world's most famous atheist and a bestselling author. He's a lonely alcoholic who hasn't been able to cope with the death of his son, and finally turns to his ex-wife, a woman of faith, after a near-death experience that begins to change his life.

The movie is set in New York and Connecticut, but most of the scenes for both those locations were shot in Birmingham.

"We found our New York and Connecticut here in Birmingham," Mrs. Sorbo said in an interview with AL.com last year. "I was surprised. I'd never been to Alabama. When we came here to scout, I was pleasantly surprised. I've got to tell you it's a sweet city with nice people. The views are pretty."

The movie was produced with a budget of $3 million.

The Sorbos are hoping it might be as successful as the surprise 2014 hit "God's Not Dead," which starred Kevin Sorbo and made a big splash in the genre of Christian filmmaking. Sorbo played an atheist college professor who mocks a student's Christian faith, but then undergoes a conversion himself. Made with a budget of $2 million, the film grossed more than $60.7 million. It became the eighth-highest grossing Christian-themed movie ever, according to Boxofficemojo.com.

A number of Christian-theme movies have been filmed in Alabama in recent years. Alabama in 2009 adopted the Entertainment Industry Incentive Act, offering tax incentives and rebates on filming expenditures. Movies made in Alabama since then include the Christian-themed "October Baby," "Mom's Night Out" and "Woodlawn," all produced by Birmingham-born Jon and Andy Erwin. Another movie, "Grace Unplugged," was filmed in Birmingham in 2012.